Support apparatus for drapery materials



June 20, 1961 R. B. JUDKINS 2,989,120

SUPPORT APPARATUS FOR DRAPERY MATERIALS Filed March 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR REED B. JUDKINS 3 2 ll 5. l m C C u. w. mu A b June 20, 1961 R. B. JUDKINS 2,989,120

SUPPORT APPARATUS FOR DRAPERY MATERIALS Filed March 115, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 mum.

INVENTOR.

REED B. JUDKINS HIS ATTORNEY Unite This invention relates to support apparatus for hanging drapery materials such as extensible panels and valance therefor and, more particularly, to a new and improved structure adapted for incorporation of serpentine, pleatforming elements threadable into the panels and valance.

For some time there has been known to the art a method of forming uniform pleats in drapery material by inserting in an upper hem thereof a metallic, springy, resilient member of serpentine or sinuous configuration symmetrical character. When such is appropriately inserted in the hem along an upper edge of drapery material, then the entire material will tend to fall into folds corresponding to the sinuous character of the resilient member therein inclosed. The inventor has found that existing drapery suspension materials have to be modified a considerable extent in order to accommodate the mounting of such fold-forming resilient members.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful support apparatus for hanging drapery materials in such a manner as to exhibit uniform folds therein.

A further object of the present invention is to provide a new and useful support apparatus for hanging drapery materials wherein serpentine, fold-forming elements are included within the apparatus, the remainder of the same being adapted for such incorporation so that the desired type of hanging may be obtained.

According to the present invention the support appara-' tus combination includes a pair of wall brackets with traverse and valance rod members disposed between the wall brackets and in spaced, parallel relationship. The wall brackets are conventional except for a pair of respective anchor hooks which serve to mount a stretched, serpentine, fold-forming valance support therebetween. This fold-forming valance support is, for example, threaded through the upper hem of a valance but remaining, however, in a horizontal plane. The fold-forming support is preferably symmetrical, with openings therein disposed where the plane of symmetry intersects the support.

Novel hook supports engage a conventional traverse rod and extend laterally and horizontally therefrom to approach the concave regions of the drapery and its foldforming support member. The hook-configured end portions of the support hooks engage the drapery material and fold-forming support member by hooking through the same in such a manner, as hereinafter to be explained, that they will not be disclosed to view. By the mounting apertures or openings of the fold-forming support members being disposed along the center axis of the support member, the weight of the valance drapery is equally distributed on both sides of members axis so that no rotative moment is present. Additional, fold-forming devices, also taking the form of resilient, serpentine, apertured members, are threaded through the tops of right and left drapery panels, the latter panels being secured to the traverse rod by hooking drapery pins through the panels and their respective, slideable support elements of the traverse rod, and also through the openings in the fold forming device. The slide members of the traverse rod include depending forks which engage the ends of the serpentine, fold-forming members so as to assure a uniform, desired travel thereof when the drapery actuating cord is pulled. The fold-forming members are anchored in a novel way to' depending. brackets which extend from States .PatentO 2,989,120 Patented June 20, 1961 the junctures of the traverse rod and the associated wall brackets.

A novel lock is provided to accommodate the foldforming devices in having, in addition to a novel reaction-bar and tooth lever combination, a guard to prevent the fold-forming devices and material covering the same from interfering with the lock. Instead of this lock, however, a conventional two-pulley unit may beused where floor pulleys are to be installed.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel are set forth with particularity in the apperided claims. The present invention, both as to its organization and manner of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation of the support apparatus of the present invention with drapery panels and valance being shown in fragmentary view.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the apparatus shown in FIGURE 1, the valance and drapery panels being removed for purposes of clarity.

FIGURE 2A is a section taken along the line 2-A-2A in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2B is a section taken along the line 2B-2B in FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 2C is a view taken along the line 2C2C in FIGURE 2, illustrating the representative support hook of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the support hook of the present invention, with the associated drapery and valance support member being shown in fragmentary, dotted lines.

FIGURE 4 is a view taken along the line 4-4 in FIG- URE 3.

FIGURE 5 is a view (side elevation) taken along the line 5 5 in FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 6A is a view taken along the line 66 in FIGURE 2, illustrating one type of anchor hook employed by the present invention.

FIGURE 6B is a view taken along the line 66 in FIGURE 2 and illustrates a second type of anchor hook of the present invention as being integral with and a part of the wall bracket of the apparatus.

FIGURE 7 is an elevation, partially in section, of the depending bracket and pulley bracket combination employed in the present invention.

FIGURE 8 is a view taken along the line 8-8 in FIG- URE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a front elevation, partially cut away for purposes of clarity, illustrating the lock member of the present invention.

FIGURE 10 is a view taken along the line 1010 in FIGURE 9.

FIGURE 11 is an elevation, partially broken away for purposes of clarity, illustrating a conventional, two-pulley member employable in the apparatus where floor pulleys are to be used.

In FIGURES l, 2, 2A and 2B the drapery support apparatus is shown to include a traverse rod member 10, a valance rod member 11 and a pair of wall brackets 12 and 12 which support in parallel, spaced relationship the traverse and valance rod members 10 and 11 by U-configured supports 13 and 14, at both ends thereof. The wall brackets 12 including the U-configured supports 13 and 14 are purely conventional, except for the inclusion of the anchor hooks 15 which shall be hereinafter described. Wall bracket, clip member 16 is likewise strictly tional manner to the wall.

It will be well at the outset to describe the valance rod member and its associated apparatus before turning to a consideration of the drapery panel support structure. This course will be pursued.

The valance rod structure is shown in FIGURES 1, 2, 2B, 2C, 3-5, 6A and 6B. Of prime importance is the inclusion in the structure of a valance support member 17, a strip-like member of sinuous form. See FIGURE l for an elevation thereof and FIGURE 2 for an edge view of same. Preferably, the valance support member 17 is fabricated from resilient material such as spring steel and exhibits a shape which is symmetrical about a center axis 18', with apertures or openings being provided in the valance support member 17 at points where the plane of symmetry intersects or crosses the member. Thus, the apertures or openings 18 along the symmetrical axis 18 of the member are provided. The end openings 18 of the valance support member 17 engage the anchor hooks 15, these being fixedly disposed with reference to the right and left wall brackets 12. As is shown in FIGURES 6A and 6B the anchor hook may be either a separate part screwed onto the bracket 12 by screw 19 or an integral portion of the wall bracket 12. In either event, the hook-configured end portions 20 thereof are directed outwardly and same engage the end openings 18 of the stretched (if resilient), valance support member 17.

It will be seen with reference to FIGURES l, 2, 2B and 20 that the cross-section of valance rod 11', the principal element of valance rod member 11, is of an elongated C configured character and is vertically oriented with the edges thereof approaching each other as indicated by the letters E in FIGURE 20.

As before explained, the serpintine or sinuous valance support member 17 is initially threaded through the hem or like area of the valance 21 in FIGURE 1.

The manner in which the valance is to be supported across the valance rod member length will now be considered.

The function of providing physical support for the valance 21 with its included valance support member 17 is served by the provision of a plurality of support hooks 22. These support hooks 22 (see, in addition to FIGURE 2, FIGURES 3-5) are each provided with a base 23, an arm 24 integral with the base 23, and a hook-configured end 25. Notches or slits 26 (four in number) are supplied in the base 23 of support hook 22 as shown so as to engage the edges E (see FIGURE 2C) of valance rod 11. By such a configuration of the support hooks 22 the valance rod 11 is supported in a vertical orientation, relative to its cross-section, so that maximum rod stiffness and strength in its intended support function may be obtained. It will be seen with reference to FIGURE 2 that the several support hooks 22 are directed toward the concave region C of the valance support member 17, with the hook-configured end 25 of each support hook 22 passing through the adjacent side of the valance material and upwardly through opening 18 in valance support member 17. The hook-configured end 25 is sufficiently small so as not to create a noticeable bulge on the display-side S of the valance. As is shown in FIGURES l and 3, the hooks do not hook through the outer valance sides but are merely disposed between the outer valance side and the valance support member 17.

It will be seen withreference to FIGURE 3 that the base 23 of the support hooks 22 has a J-configurement; if desired, the leg 27 of the base: 23 may be disposed outwardly so that the J-configurement exhibits an obtuse character, with the notches or slots 26 being slightly enlarged and out of line with each other. In such event, and assuming the base 23 is'of resilient character, then the support book '22 is adapted to slide back and forth along the traverse rod 11 by the user merely exerting thumb and finger pressure upon base so as to reduce the obtuse character thereof; however, when the users thumb and finger are removed, then the base will spring back,

to the dotted line configuration 27 in FIGURE 3 so as to retain in fixed disposition the support hook 22 relative to its new position upon valance rod 11'. Of course, if the support hooks 22 are not of resilient material, then the base may be simply notched and square as shown in FIGURE 3 so as to engage in a slideably manner the edges E in FIGURE 2C. It will be understood with reference to FIGURE 2C that the lower edge E serves as a runner for the base of the support hook 22 whereas the upper edge serves merely as a guide. In addition, if the base of the support hook 22 is not of resilient character, then, should it be desired that a support hook have a fixed disposition on the valance rod 11, one may simply bend outwardly with a pair of pliers the leg 27 so that this notch becomes angulated, pinching against the rod.

The point is now reached to consider the effect of the inclusion of the several support hooks 22 in the design of the over-all valance rod member 11. It will be noted in FIGURE 2 that the several support hooks 22 engage the valance support member 17 at the several openings 18 which have been explained to exist in the plane of symmetry intersection with member 17. Accordingly, the weight of the valance drapery is evenly distributed about the axis 18', defined by the several openings 18, so that there will be no moment of rotation present. Additionally, the support hooks have a lateral and horizontal disposition so that the serpintine, valance support member 17 is disposed in a horizontal plane which is coplanar with the plane of the valance and traverse rods. Thus, the valance is able to perform its intended function, namely, to cover from view all of the working apparatus of this structure, and this even though the upper portion 21' of the valance be of limited extent.

Turning now to the traverse rod structure it is seen that the traverse rod member 10 includes as a basic element the traverse rod 10, this red also being of an elongated, C-configured cross-section as shown in FIGURE 2A. Slideably mounted to and within the traverse rod 10' is a plurality of conventional support elements 27 and a pair of slide members 28 on the right and left hand sides of the apparatus. Slide members 28 and the support elements 27 are standard parts provided with suitable pinreceiving apertures, save for the inclusion of a respective, depending fork 29. As is shown in FIGURE 1, this fork 29 provides a slot 30 which receives the end 31 of the resilient member 33, the aperture 18 thereof admitting pin 40 and with the latter being looped through aperture 32 of the slide member 28. Left and right resilient members 33 and 34 loop through the hems of the respective drapery panels 35 and 36 and are secured by pins 40 to the several support elements 27, the pins passing through the apertures or openings 18 of resilient members 33 and 34. The outermost ends of resilient members 33 and 34 are secured to depending, retention brackets 35 (see FIGURES l, 7 and 8). With reference to FIGURES 7 and 8 is seen that the retention brackets 35 include a lateral flange end 36 provided with aperture 37 and a leg portion 38 provided with a central aperture 39. A conventional, N-configured, drapery pin 40 (similar to the pins 40 which connect the drapery panels and their respective resilient members to the support elements 27) is shown to hook through the depending retention brackets 39 in FIGURE 8 as is therein shown. The pin 40 of course hooks through the drapery and also through an end aperture or opening 18 of resilient member 33 (34). To conceal this connection from view the drapery ends of the valance merely loop around the end brackets 12, with pins 40 connecting the same to the bracket proper by means of appropriate bracket apertures (not shown). Of importance in the traverse rod construction is the inclusion of forks in the slide members, also the depending brackets for anchoring the outermost ends of the resilient, serpentine members 33 and 34 to positions in regions of gasses operate to give positive retention to the resilient serpentine members 33 and 34 so as to enable the drapery panels to be drawn easily together and apart, and this without distortrnig the regular fold appearance of the forward edges drapery panels. In the absence of the fork structure in the slide members 28 and 28, it has been found that the appearance of the drapery material along the innermost edge region becomes distorted and the drawing of the drapes undesirable. V

As is shown in FIGURES 7 and '8 the retention bracket 35 may also include an additional bracket 41 provided with a mounting screw 42. The pulley 43 of bracket 41 must be mounted in a rotatable manner on pin 43' so that it may end-mount the conventional draw cord 44 (see FIGURE 8 and FIGURE 2). The slide members 28 are secured to opposite lengths of the cord 44 in a conventional manner. Screw 42 in FIGURE 8 serves to mount the bracket 41-35 combination to the end of traverse rod In FIGURES l, 2, 9 and 10 the cord lock on the invention is illustrated and is designated by the numeral 45. Cord lock 45 includes a rotatably mounted (or fixed for a relatively slick cord) pulley wheel (or pulley wheels) 46 over which both lengths of the draw cord 44 pass. A reaction bar 47 is fixedly disposed within the lock 45. The lever 48, spring biased by spring 49 in engagement with reaction pin 50, includes a central leg 51 having teeth 52 cooperating with reaction bar 47 to stop the movement of the cord 44 and all tendencies of movement thereof. As is seen with reference to FIG- URE 10, the cord 44 passes through a pair of holes 53' in lower lever flange 53 and, with the spring bias exerted upon the lever 48 being such as to urge the lever 48 in a clockwise direction about its pivot, the making taut of the cord 44 will release teeth 52' from cord 44 and open the space between teeth 52 and reaction bar 47; when, however, the operator removes his hand from the cord 44- and the cord becomes slackened, then the lever 48 assumes position as shown in FIGURE 9.

The guard element 54 protects the lock 45 from interference by the drapery material disposed upon resilient member 34 in FIGURE 1. This the inventor has found essential to incorporate in the design of the lock apparatus so as to preclude the inadvertent interference of drapery material and the resilient member with the function of the lock.

Pulley member 55 having rotatable pulley wheels 55 in FIGURE 11 may be substituted in place of the lock 45 in FIGURES 9 and 10 where a iioor pulley arrangement is to be installed. In the case of a floor pulley the tension on the cord will be sufficient to preclude the inadvertent movement of the drapery material.

While particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from this invention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A support apparatus combination for hanging a pair of drapery panels and associated valance, including, in combination, a pair of wall bracket members; a traverse rod member affixed at its ends to and between said bracket members at medial points thereof and including right and left, manually actuatable slide members and a respective plurality of support elements; a valance rod member aifixed at its ends to and between said bracket members and disposed parallel to and outwardly of said traverse rod member; right and left, resilient members, each of sinuous form and in a horizontal plane, threaded through said drapery panels, respectively, and afiixed at one end thereof to said right and left slide members, respectively,

each of said resilient members being symmetrical and provided with openings at points at which the plane of symmetry cuts thereacross; first and second means for fixedly positioning the remaining ends of said right and left resilient members, respectively, in proximity with the associated ends of said traverse rod member; pin means for securing said drapery panel's arid their respective resilient members to said support elements at selected ones of said resilient member openings; a valance support member of sinuous form threaded through said valance and supported along selected points thereof from said valance rod member; and first and second means for fixedly positioning the ends of said valance support member in proximity with the associated ends of said valance rod member.

2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said valance support member is symmetrical and is provided with openings at points at which the plane of symmetry cuts thereacross, and in which said valance rod member includes a plurality of lateral, outwardly protruding, substantially horizontally disposed, support hooks having hook-configured ends, said support hook being selectively interspaced with the ends thereof approaching respective concave regions of said sinuous, valance support member and laterally hooking through said valance support member at corresponding ones of said openings thereof.

3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said valance support member is symmetrical and is provided with openings at points at which the plane of symmetry cuts thereacross, said valance rod member comprising: a valance rod the cross-section of which is vertically oriented and of an elongated, C-configuration with the inwardly directed edges thereof substantially approaching each other; and a plurality of lateral, outwardly protruding, substantially horizontally disposed support hooks having upwardly curved, hook-configured ends and a J-configured base provided with notches engaging said inwardly directed edges of said valance rod, said support hooks approaching concave regions of said valance support member and said hook-configured ends laterally hooking through said valance support member at corresponding ones of said openings thereof.

4. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said first and second means for fixedly positioning the remaining ends of said right and left resilient members each comprises: a retention bracket fixedly disposed in proximity with the junctures of said traverse rod and said wall brackets, each retention bracket including a depending leg portion provided with a pin receiving aperture and lateral flange end also having a pin receiving aperture; and a pin disposed through an end one of said openings of said resilient member and passing through said leg and flange apertures.

5. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said valance support member is symmetrical and is provided with openings at points at which the plane of symmetry cuts thereacross, and in which said first and second means for fixedly positioning the ends of said valance support member each comprises an outwardly extending anchor hook exhibiting a hook portion engaging an end one of said valance support member openings, said anchor hook extending from a respective one of said wall brackets, and said valance support member being resilient and stretched between said anchor hooks.

6. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said traverse rod member includes an end cord lock, said cord lock, including: pulley means, a reaction bar disposed below said pulley means, pivoted, spring biased, lever means having a lower flange provided with cord apertures and a central leg exhibiting teeth cooperable with said reaction bar, and guard means for preventing drapery contact with said lever means; said traverse rod also including an actuating cord pulleyed at the remaining travthereby being extensible for adjusting drapery panel width, 16 erse rod end, opposite lengths of said cord being afiixed to said slide members and passed in between said reaction bar and said teeth and through said lower fiange cord apertures of said lever means.

7. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which each of said slide members includes a depending fork, the transiatable end of each of said resilient members being respectively disposed within the fork of its respective slide member.

8. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which said J-configured'base of each of said support hooks is resilient and of obtuse character, said base, normally fixedly engaging said valance rod being slidable therealong when thumb and finger pressure is applied to said base to lessen the obtuse character thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

